Rail-joint.



PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

M. H. BRINK. RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 1, 1997.

R w A m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORIS BRINK, OF BLAIRSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNB.

CARSON, OF BLAIRSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Moms H. BRINK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Blairsville, in the county of Indiana and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, and the invention has for itsobject to provide novel means for preventing the lateral and verticaldisplacement of the confronting ends of two sections of rails.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rail joint having acontinuous tread which will prevent the jarring of rollin stock assingover the joint.

TVith t ese and other objects in view, which will more readily appear asthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore fully described and then specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this specification, likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved rail oint, Fig. 2 is aperspective view of one end of a rail, illustrating a dovetailed grooveformed in the tread thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end ofanother rail illustrating the tongue adapted to engage in the groove,and Fig. 4 is an elevation of two connected rails, partly in section.

To put my invention into practice, I provide the head 1 of an ordinaryrail 2 with a dove-tail groove 3 having the bottom thereof at its. innerend formed with a recess 4.

The head 5 of the rail 6 to be connected to the rail 2 is provided withan outwardly extending tongue 7 having the sides thereof slightlybeveled and further having depending from its lower face at the free endthereof a lug or enlargement 8.

To connect the rails 2 and 6, the end of Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 1. 1907. Serial No'. 355.315.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

the tongue 7 is placed in the dove-tail groove 3 and the rail 6 is movedtowards the rail 2, until the lug or enlargement 8 lies over the recess4 and the tongue 7 strikes the inner end of the groove 3, sufficientclearance being present between the tongue and the sides of the grooveto permit a small vertical movement. By releasing the end of the rail 6,the tongue 7 is lowered and the lug or enlargement S engages in therecess 4. During this operation, the top of the tongue 7 lies slightlyabove the head of the rail 1 but upon the lug or enlargement 8 reachingthe recess 4, the tongue 7 assumes a position Where its top is flushwith the top of the head. 1 of the rail 2.

By referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the recess 4 is ofgreater length than the lug or enlargement 8, thereby allowinglongitudinal movement of the rails 1 and 6 in case of expansion andcontraction.

The novel manner in which I connect the confronting ends of two railstogether prevents lateral and vertical displacement of one rail withrelation to its adjoining rail, also longitudinal displacement beyondthe distance prescribed for expansion and contraction. dove-tailfeatures of the groove 3 and the tongue 7 form a very important functionin connection with my improved rail joint.

It will therefore be seen that the I do not care to confine myself tothe manner of securing the rails to ties or to the use of fish plates,bars or similar rail fasteners.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is j 1. A railjoint comprising two sections of rails having confronting ends, the headof one of said rails having a dove tail groove having the bottom thereofatits inner end terminating in a recess, the other of said rails havingits head provided with an outwardly extending tongue having beveledsides'and adapted to slide into the groove, and a depending lug orenlargement carried by the outer end of said tongue and adapted toengage in the said recess, said lug or enlargement being of a lesslength than said recess to permit'of a slight longitudinal movement ofsaid rails, substantially as described.

2. A rail joint consisting of two sections of rails, the head of one ofsaid rails having a dove-tail groove formed therein terminating at itsinner end in a recess, a tongue carried by the head of the other of saidrails and adapted to fit in said groove, said tongue having the sidesbeveled, and a de- 10' pending lug or enlargement carried by said tongueand adapted to engage in said recess. In testimony whereof I affiX mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MORIS H. BRINK. Witnesses:

ROBERT H. WIGGINs, COU'LTER WIGGINS.

